Water Implications Revealed as World’s Population Reaches 7 Billion

The National Assn. of Water Companies highlights private water industry’s contributions to the future of water management

On Monday, Oct. 31, 2011, the United Nations symbolically celebrated the world’s population reaching 7 billion. National Assn. of Water Companies Executive Director Michael Deane has released the following statement:

“As countries around the world are marking the world’s population reaching 7 billion, this event is a stark reminder that we are living in a time of accelerated growth and change. But as the world's population continues to put pressure on resources, technological advancements in the water industry are providing us with the tools to make better use of what we have.

“Through the development and implementation of technology that creates efficiency, and the replacement of aging infrastructure with innovative solutions, the private water industry is already looking to the future of water management. But we must address the critical issues facing America's water and wastewater infrastructure now – not only because they affect the quality of life today, but because proactive planning and innovative thinking will contribute to a more sustainable future for generations to come.

“There are difficult and costly decisions to be made, and we must not defer this burden and its costs to future generations. The values we teach our children are as important as the infrastructure and debts we leave as our legacy.”